The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1887-06-16
AUNT PENNIMAN.
Jeans Practical Idea, and It's Ro-
mantle Ending.

rain-drops of the last shower shining in the
gun, when Jean drove over to the railroad
station, a mile away, to meet Aunt Penni-
man. Meanwhile prepared lunch of bis
cults, tea and dainty salad, and Laura
gave the finishing touches to the neat front
chamber, looping back the curtains and
Gliing her favorite green Japanese bowl
with fresh violets to adorn the dressing
table. We made dear mother put on her
best and sit in the parlor to wait, for this was
a great event for US, this coming Of Aunt
Penniman. None of US girls had ever seen
her, and neither had mother; but she was
fathers own aunt, and when he was alive
he had from time to time spoken OF her.
We always understood that she had mar
ried into very wealthy and fashionable
family, in distant city, and from thence
forth had never visited her old homo. We
knew that she was left widow and child
less, and must now be quite an old lady.
When father died, leaving US with the
house, garden and two hundred dollars a
year, you may imagine that we girls had to
awake out of our dreams and learn to be
practical Jean became most practical of
all, and she had need to be, for she was en-
gagged to young doctor. who had only one
or two patients to speak of, besides the
non-paying ones, and there were years in
terminable to wait, unless something
t'turned up" So Jean bent all her wits to
the problem. She had schemes about rails.
ing strawberries and putting up green
houses; she thought of setting out celery
plants, and she talked of a dairy. But all
this was mere skirmishing. 1t added
good deal to her general information, and
she made some pretty estimates on paper;
but her real battles were fought in doing
all the marketing and shopping, all the max
ing and men6ing, and contriving costumes
out OF almost nothing twas she who held
the family purse, kept the accounts, and
considered the taxes. Mother and did the
hOusewOrk, and l had three music scholars,
which helped not a little. Laura, our
youngest sister, was just out of school,
and not broken to the harness. Some
day she would teach or learn trade.
or do copying or something; but not yet.
She was fresh from school and in all the
glamour of girlhood, and there is time
TO laugh and time TO dance, as well as
time for every thing else.
Well, we were not getting ahead any,
manage as we might, and two anxious little
wrinkles came to stay between jeans
bright eyes. She was always planning and
schemlns, and one wild, rainy day when l
saw her suddenly drop her work and go to
Che writing-desk, knew a fresh idea had
struck her. She wrote a letter, aud went
out in the storm TO post it. We asked no
questions, and she said nothing.
But a week later she flew in among US
triumphant, waving an open letter in her
hand.
''She's coming! she's comingT she ex-
claimed. aunt Penniman is coming to
live with US, and pay twelve dollars a week
for her board!. It's all my own idea.
wrote 20 her and told her how we were
situated, and invited her 10 make her home
with US. She's dear old lady, and our own
Ereat-aunt, and it will pay all our house
keeping expenses, and when she is i'll she
will call in Harry to doctor herl We shall
get along splendidly now. Just Think
Aunt Penniman is comingr'
All mother could say was: "Why, Jean
Follett ~ while Laura and i sat speeches.
for a moment, but only moment, and then
we assailed Jean. How did she know but
Aunt Penniman was fretful, discontinued
old lady VINO would be constant trial!
How did she know she had money enough
TO pay her board! She might expect jellies
and wine and game. She M sht have rheu-
matism day and night, though indeed that
might be why Jean had invited her, that
skill ga
To all this Jean replied calmly that Aunt
Penniman had written a very sensible,
friendly letter, had named her own rate Of
board, had said she preferred plain living,
but wanted to spend her last days among
her friends; and had more than limited that
she would do something very handsome in
our favor if she made her nome with Us.
1t was not hard to be persuaded, and we
were soon as full Of hope as Jean. Mother
rose TO the occasion and planned all the
arrangements of Aunt Penniman's ROOM
while began TO study up delightful little
breakfasts.
I'm DC Aunt Penniman's maid,n declared
Laura "She will have gray hair, and
will dress it every day, and will write her
letters and read to her. think it will be
lovely TO have an old lady in the house"
AT twelve dollars a week." said practi-
cal jean.
Aunt Penniman had set her day. It had
come and Jean had gone TO meet and bring
her home. After every thing was ready
Laura and stood at the door in flutter.
III seems as if our fairy godmother was
coming,a said Laura.
Presently we saw them Jean drove up
smiling and competent, and helped Aunt
Penniman to alight. The old lady stepped
briskly toward US. gave us each hasty
kiss, and then went into the parlor where
mother met her.
1.-THE trunks will be here in a minute, "
said Jean: ssthe expressman Is bringing
them Three he is noww
Such load of theml Six trunks, all Old
fashioned leather ones, and three carpet